Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry pair awarded to Chief Officer N. Sweetman, H.M. Coastguard

Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, V.R., large, bronze (Nicholas Sweetman, Stranding of the “Enterprize” of Goole, near Ulrome, on 25th. October, 1859.) in original embossed and named case of issue, minor edge nicks and traces of lacquer to both medals, about extremely fine (2) £340-380

Nicholas Sweetman was born in Ireland in 1821 and ‘saw active service in the Baltic in the year 1854, under Admiral Sir Charles Napier.’ (Driffield Times refers). Transferring to the Coastguard, he was awarded the Board of Trade’s Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea for rescuing two men from the sloop Enterprize near Ulrome, off the Yorkshire coast, on 25 October 1859. He was appointed Chief Officer of Coastguards at Filey on 19 April 1862, and in January 1871 was involved in the rescue of the crew of the schooner Industry, an account of the rescue appearing in the Bridlington Free Press:
‘On Sunday 22 January, at about half past five in the afternoon, the schooner Industry, of Colchester, coal laden, from Seaham for Ivanhoe, parted from her anchor in Filey Bay, and ran on shore, a strong S.S.E. wind and heavy sea prevailing at the time, the vessel having near five feet of water in the hold. Lieutenant Sweetman and the Coastguard immediately got out the life apparatus, and hastened to the beach, taking up a position in line with the ship. The lifeboat was launched, and gallantly pulled through the breakers to the vessel’s side. During this time the Coastguard had fired a splendid rocket right across the rigging. The line was seized by the crew, and in a few minutes the whole of them were safely landed by the apparatus, in the presence of hundreds of spectators.’

Sweetman died on 27 June 1871, aged 50.